Disco

If you’ve been considering taking Disco Elysium for another spin (or even a first spin) but want to do it on device small enough you could feasibly play it while, say, spelunking, there’s some good news: the “reimagined” mobile version of developer ZA/UM Studio’s acclaimed RPG comes to Android devices on 5th August. And if you still need some convincing it’ll work on a smaller device, there’s even more good news, as the first two chapters are free.

Disco Elysium – a sort of hard-boiled noir mystery presented using the conventions of a CRPG – tells the story of an amnesiac, alcoholic detective attempting to solve a murder while in the throes of existential crisis. And Eurogamer contributor Edwin Evans-Thirwell enjoyed its verbose, improbably deep psychodrama enough that he named it one of his faves of 2019.

And Edwin is far from its only fan. But ZA/UM – a troubled studio that’s been involved an absolute mess of litigation and finger-pointing since Disco Elysium’s release – didn’t exactly impress when it announced a “reimagined” mobile adaptation earlier this year. “We intend to captivate the TikTok user with quick hits of compelling story, art, and audio, ultimately creating an all new, deeply engaging form of entertainment,” is how studio head Denis Havel put it.

Disco Elysium on Android – release date trailer.Watch on YouTube

In truth, though, the reality doesn’t seem anywhere near as dubious; essentially, ZA/UM has ditched the original’s isometric gameplay in favour of an approach somewhat closer to a visual novel, where players swipe through dialogue options presented against bold 2D artwork. The idea, the studio says, is to create an experience specifically tailored toward “short play sessions that should easily fit into your life”. Such as, say, when you’re spelunking.

When Disco Elysium’s mobile version “debuts” for Android on 5th August (suggesting an iOS release may follow), it’ll cost £9.99/€9.99/$9.99 USD. But if you’re not entirely sold on the idea of ZA/UM’s reimagining, you’ll be able to play the first two chapters for free.

As to what ZA/UM is doing next, that’ll be C4, a new RPG described as being “part espionage thriller, part psychedelic sci-fi”. Meanwhile, a whole bunch of former staff (many who split acrimoniously) have announced new projects in a similar vein to Disco Elysium.

Over in the UK, there’s Dark Math Games and Longdue – two studios comprised of former ZA/UM developers that both announced Disco Elysium spiritual successors last year. Longdue is working on a “psychogeographic RPG” it’s now unveiled as Hopetown, while Dark Math is developing a detective RPG called XXX Nightshift. Additionally, former Disco Elysium writer Argo Tuulik has also announced a new RPG, being made at his Summer Eternal studio. And finally, Disco Elysium lead writer Robert Kurvitz and art director Aleksander Rostov have also set up their own studio, and were previously said to be making a game with backing from NetEase.

Source link

We might rightly judge Batman Arkham-style combat by how cool the counters make you feel, what with the core of it melting into second-nature rhythmic meditation that renders you basically unkillable after a few minutes of practice. You will win the fight. This is guaranteed. The combat is designed to make you win. Usually the second tutorial prompt is “here’s the button that makes you win. Don’t worry if you don’t know when to press it. We’ll tell you”.

Likewise, you will win the fights in Dead As Disco’s Steam demo. Maybe the action after the demo gets harder. I dare not predict the future. But this is not the important part. The important part is that you will feel very cool as you easily win. You can hold down a button to beat your enemies with a glowstick that hits about three times to every beat in the music. It feels like doing violence with a turbo maraca made of steel and also filled with steel balls. You can also import your own music, so maybe this doesn’t exactly line up with, say, Meshuggah’s Bleed. But it certainly lines up with Michael Sembello’s She’s A Maniac. Here’s a trailer.

Watch on YouTube

There are two types of finishers. Two. One you can do just before an attack to counter, and another you can do just after a dodge. Each one displays more physical activity than I have performed this year, combined. But you can just keep doing them. Such is the power of disco. Also, your enemies dance when the stage starts. Also also, one of the stages has dangerous trains. Does hearing about dangerous trains make you hungry? Understandable. Here’s a menu of features.

Fight to music: attack, dodge, and take-down enemies in perfect sync with the music. Master the musical path of each Idol to unlock new talents, moves, and dances. The groove isn’t just for the show: it’s your ultimate Beat Kune Do.

Rockstar Customization: Collect over-the-top fashion from all the stars in the world of Disco. No matter what look you choose, you’ll always leave an impression.

Customize your home away from home, the Dive Bar, by collecting memorabilia from past and present, and in the process unlock the true story of what really happened to the band.

Jam Together: Team up in Co-op, or compete on the leaderboards to be king of the dancefloor.

Upload, Mods, And Ugc: Upload your own music, edit music videos, and craft your own music-synced gameplay spectacle! Dead as Disco is a UGC mosh pit ready for modding.

Your character is named ‘Charlie Disco’. I can’t believe our little Charlie Disco grew up to love disco music. That’s such a lovely coincidence. Dead As Disco’s release is still TBA.

Source link

Disco Elysium’s “reimagined” mobile version is out soon and the first two chapters are free

Dead As Disco is a stylish Batman Arkham beat ’em to the beat ’em up